Will I see the benefits of upgrading to an i5 or i7?

[corinhorn]

Currently am using a MacBook Core 2 Duo with 4GB of RAM and Mac OS X 10.7. I've been using this machine for 12 years. Even with an SSD, apps take quite a bit of time to launch. Fans are always running at 100%. Several websites won't load because I cannot install an up-to-date browser. Cannot have multiple tabs open without the whole system being on the verge of locking up. Can't run more than a few apps at a time. Optical drive shot. Battery shot. Three keys don't work on the keyboard, and haven't for the past 4 years. Oh, and the screen also blanks out 20 to 25 times a day. I think it might be time to upgrade to a new machine.

I've toyed around with the newer MacBook iterations, and I'm really not a fan of the magic wizard super karate touch bar and the absence of the function keys. I've also turned into a cheap SOB in recent years, what with my wife and I raising six kids. So, the MBA is the best choice for my more serious quirks.

I plan to max out the RAM.

The dilemma I'm facing is which CPU? I'd love to get some input from other Mac geeks. I primarily need it for basic document crap, web surfing, occasional youtube nonsense, email, occasional light video/sound editing, and some basic projects using SketchUp. (I can't run SketchUp on my current MB).

My initial thought was to spend the extra money to get the i7, thinking it will be eligible for future Os updates for a longer period of time than the i3 or i5. But I also wonder if I'll ever see the benefits of having an i5/i7. And, the heat issue of the i5/i7.

I have the money to get the i7, but I could always spend that upgrade money on other things, like underwear or shoes for my kids. My kids also demand that I feed them. So greedy.

 

[barbu]

The only time to spend extra on an upgrade is when you know for sure you’ll use it. For example, I sprang for the i7 because I knew I’d be transcoding videos, compiling software, and virtualizing frequently.
If you can’t say what you’d use it for, don’t buy it.
Also, machines become obsolete as a line, not based on optional configurations. Your hypothetical upgraded computer would age out the same day as the base model.

 

[bodonnell202]

I would definitely say spending the money on the i5 over the i3 is worth it (it can even be a standalone upgrade on the base model) as it means going from a dual core to a quad core (and an upgraded GPU as well) and I suspect will make it significantly more future proof. The i7 doesn't seem worth it to me as you are only getting a little more clock speed (and I assume a little more cache) and you likely won't see much (if any) benefit to having the i7 compared to the i5.

 

[corinhorn]

The only time to spend extra on an upgrade is when you know for sure you’ll use it. For example, I sprang for the i7 because I knew I’d be transcoding videos, compiling software, and virtualizing frequently.
If you can’t say what you’d use it for, don’t buy it.
Also, machines become obsolete as a line, not based on optional configurations. Your hypothetical upgraded computer would age out the same day as the base model.

Ah, it has been so long since I've updated my OS. I remember back in the day, the CPU was part of OS upgrade requirements.. Just product line now, eh? Good to know.

I would definitely say spending the money on the i5 over the i3 is worth it (it can even be a standalone upgrade on the base model) as it means going from a dual core to a quad core (and an upgraded GPU as well) and I suspect will make it significantly more future proof. The i7 doesn't seem worth it to me as you are only getting a little more clock speed (and I assume a little more cache) and you likely won't see much (if any) benefit to having the i7 compared to the i5.

Oh, I forgot about the GPU difference.

 

[26139]

Unless you're regularly encoding video, the i7 is likely more than you need.

I had an i7 in a MacBook Air a few years ago, switched to an i5 for my subsequent Pro and Air, and the only time I notice is when I render video every few months.

 

[bodonnell202]

Oh, I forgot about the GPU difference.

Or it least I thought there was a difference. I swear I remember reading that the i3 has the G4 (48 EU) and the i5 and i7 have the G7 (64 EU), but now I can't remember where...

 

[corinhorn]

Or it least I thought there was a difference. I swear I remember reading that the i3 has the G4 (48 EU) and the i5 and i7 have the G7 (64 EU), but now I can't remember where...

I recall seeing a GPU difference written somewhere too.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

Not on Apple's tech specs page on their website.

I would love to see where you "saw" [sic] this.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Or it least I thought there was a difference. I swear I remember reading that the i3 has the G4 (48 EU) and the i5 and i7 have the G7 (64 EU), but now I can't remember where...

EveryMac is reporting the following Intel processors in the 2020 Macbook Air:

i3-1000NG4
i5-1030NG7
i7-1060NG7

It looks like Intel is giving us a clue as to which GPU in included in each chip. (last two characters)

So yes... it appears that the i3 has the G4 graphics... and the i5 and i7 have the G7 graphics.

IMHO... the i5 is the minimum I would ever go. It's only $100 more to get twice the cores and much better graphics. Even if you think you will never take advantage of it... it seems silly to go with the i3

As for the i7... I'm not sure you can really get the benefits of it. Any heavy workload will probably be throttled anyway.

The i5 seems like the sweet spot.

 

[corinhorn]

Not on Apple's tech specs page on their website.

I would love to see where you "saw" [sic] this.

I'm looking. I could have sworn I read it somewhere. My ancient MacBook is getting very constipated trying to load a bunch of webpages.

Ah, someone beat me to it. Gotta love this 2008 MacBook speed.

 

[KPOM]

Currently am using a MacBook Core 2 Duo with 4GB of RAM and Mac OS X 10.7. I've been using this machine for 12 years. Even with an SSD, apps take quite a bit of time to launch. Fans are always running at 100%. Several websites won't load because I cannot install an up-to-date browser. Cannot have multiple tabs open without the whole system being on the verge of locking up. Can't run more than a few apps at a time. Optical drive shot. Battery shot. Three keys don't work on the keyboard, and haven't for the past 4 years. Oh, and the screen also blanks out 20 to 25 times a day. I think it might be time to upgrade to a new machine.

I've toyed around with the newer MacBook iterations, and I'm really not a fan of the magic wizard super karate touch bar and the absence of the function keys. I've also turned into a cheap SOB in recent years, what with my wife and I raising six kids. So, the MBA is the best choice for my more serious quirks.

I plan to max out the RAM.

The dilemma I'm facing is which CPU? I'd love to get some input from other Mac geeks. I primarily need it for basic document crap, web surfing, occasional youtube nonsense, email, occasional light video/sound editing, and some basic projects using SketchUp. (I can't run SketchUp on my current MB).

My initial thought was to spend the extra money to get the i7, thinking it will be eligible for future Os updates for a longer period of time than the i3 or i5. But I also wonder if I'll ever see the benefits of having an i5/i7. And, the heat issue of the i5/i7.

I have the money to get the i7, but I could always spend that upgrade money on other things, like underwear or shoes for my kids. My kids also demand that I feed them. So greedy.

Coming from a Core 2 Duo with a spinning hard drive, any model will seem speedy by comparison. That said, for $100, the i5 is a decent improvement. This is not a replacement for a 13” MacBook Pro (which is still significantly faster for processor-intensive tasks), but it is still a bit more “future proof” if you plan on keeping it as long as you did your current setup. The i7 is only marginally faster than the i5. I’d upgrade to 16GB vs. getting the i7 if you want to future proof.

 

[Jimmy James]

The only time to spend extra on an upgrade is when you know for sure you’ll use it. For example, I sprang for the i7 because I knew I’d be transcoding videos, compiling software, and virtualizing frequently.
If you can’t say what you’d use it for, don’t buy it.
Also, machines become obsolete as a line, not based on optional configurations. Your hypothetical upgraded computer would age out the same day as the base model.

This advice depends on many factors. How long do you keep your machine? Is it user upgradeable? How close are you to the limit? Are you clear about your future use?

My old machine is only still in service because I’ve upgraded or replaced the ram, storage drive, and battery. Some more than once. If user servicing wasn’t an option I would have been better served upgrading up front. I couldn’t predict all of my usage.

 

[esphil]

I went with a i5/512gb/16gb of ram. I currently have a 2010 imac i3 27" inch that is still kicking. The only issue I had with it was having to replace the drive. I have a desktop PC and a 2015 mbp for work. I was debating getting a i9 16inch refurb, or the mac mini. However I really dislike the weight of the mbp, I like to have something I can use on the couch that is the size of the air. Thinking back on what I use my imac for, I can probably count on 1 hand the number of times I've had to edit video, and pretty much never play games. I don't need to go based on a benchmark that is supposed to push the air to its limits and wonder why the fan is on. I don't want to lug around a huge machine that has enough horsepower for something I'm not going to use. The air fits the bill for me, even if a refurb mbp with better performance is a little bit more. The big thing is the weight and portability.

 

[KPOM]

The only time to spend extra on an upgrade is when you know for sure you’ll use it. For example, I sprang for the i7 because I knew I’d be transcoding videos, compiling software, and virtualizing frequently.
If you can’t say what you’d use it for, don’t buy it.
Also, machines become obsolete as a line, not based on optional configurations. Your hypothetical upgraded computer would age out the same day as the base model.

I tend to agree with this. Normally, I tell people looking to maximize resale value to get the cheapest model that suits their need. No one cares whether a 3 year old Mac is an i5 or an i7. It’s a 3 year old Mac. That said, since the i5 is only a $100 upgrade, and goes from dual core to quad core, I think the i5 isn’t a bad upgrade for most people. A 3 year old quad core sounds better than a 3 year old dual core.